EASTPORT, LONG ISLAND

Eastport, Long Island

Eastport is located in Suffolk County, New York. As of the 2000 census, there were 1,454 people, 554 households, and 373 families residing in this area. The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,550 and the median income for a family was $52,917. Males had a median income of $40,163 while only $35,000 for females.

Eastport is known as the duck capital of the world for its plenty of Peking ducks which were introduced to the United States from China in 1873. By the early 1900’s, there were approximately 29 farms in this hamlet and produced about 6.5 million of the ducks going to market. In the late 1960s, the farmers were forced to build pollution pits to divert the duck waste from waterways because of the pressures of pollution which put most of the duck farms out of business. Today, only one family has actively operated a duck farm in Eastport and Chet Massey, which is the only duck farmer left.

Eastport is one of the lesser-traveled ways to the South Fork. A part of Sunrise Highway where there is no hard traffic between Center Moriches and Remensburg is sometimes used. There are also wonderful destination spots nearby in addition to the waterways. Tourism is also a growing industry in Eastport for there is great natural beauty that surrounds the entire hamlet.